Perhaps I am behind the times, but this week was the first time I have ever seen the film We Live In Public. My initial reactions were what’s going on? People really signed up for this? Lastly, I reflected on the fact that the Internet has given countless ‘normal’ people the ability to rise to fast and usually short lived fame. The specific instance that I am thinking about is the “Numa Numa guy.” In 2006, you could not go anywhere without hearing about this New Jersey native.
The video was watched over 36 million times. Due his success on YouTube, he was featured on ABC’s Good Morning America, NBC’s The Tonight Show, VH1’s Best Week Ever, Geico commercials, and he was even featured in a Super Bowl commercial. The Internet has provided the average Joe with a platform to perform and if the public takes to it a glimpse of fame could be captured for a brief moment. Where the “Numa Numa guy” is now, I personally have no idea. But he certainly made an impact on society.
Being an Internet enthusiast, I don’t think that the Internet is going to take over our lives. I think that many of the positive aspects are over looked due to the examples that cast the Internet in a negative light. Yes, the Internet can be used inappropriately but it can also be incredibly helpful. We created the Internet, thus we are essentially in control.
Throughout this course, we have looked at the positive impacts such as free and open software to negative cases such as that of Mr. Bungle. However, my conclusion is that the Internet has provided us with more good then evil. There are going to be people who use the Internet in malicious ways however the advancements and good that have come out of it outweigh the evil.
I agree with you when you say that there are always going to be people who use the interent in malicious ways. On the whole, I belive that the interet has had more of a positive effect on my life and the society we live in. It doesn't seem fair to let a few bad eggs lead people to think of the internet in a negative light. When you said that we created the internet and we are essentially in control, I think this statement can be used to convince those with a negative view of the web. Yes, there are dangers and inappropriate things on the interent, but with time we can take control of these issues because we essentially control it.
ReplyDeleteYour point is well made about the uses of the Internet. People who says it's a tool for evil are the one's probably using it as a tool for evil. Plenty of good does come from the Internet, and we've discussed many of those facts over the course of the semester. Also, Brittni, I agree that the issues will be worked out over time. The Internet will be what its users make of it.
ReplyDeleteThat movie is crazy. I cant believe that is wasn't stopped earlier, however, those people did sign up for this.
ReplyDeleteLiz, I agree that is the craziest part. People actually wanted to be apart of the 'experiment' and would literally do anything for fame.
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